Coffee talk

"Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard."
- Anne Spencer

Coffee appreciation has come a long way in the past twenty years. Not only has the price gone up, but so has the amount of followers. I find that there are three camps of coffee drinkers: Those who drink to stay awake, those who drink because they enjoy it, and those who do both. For most, it's a morning ritual that they've never broken, but maybe they've altered. Rather than having your coffee black, or with cream and sugar, you can now get it iced, spiked, frappe'd, and chai'd.

Within the past week, I've been working on a pitch for work to a well-known coffee giant. During my primary research, I have talked to many coffee enthusiasts. I've learned that when drinking coffee, time of day has a heavy impact on how the coffee is enjoyed, and at what consumption or type. However, the "first sip" moment is seemingly consistent among the many different coffee drinkers. Most find it refreshing, calming, and comforting-all at the same time. We all know and remember the Folgers brewing in the kitchen commercials... "the best part of wakin' up..."

The artistry of making a coffee has been exposed to a grandiose degree. Think beyond your Starbucks baristas to a person who respects the vast creations of customizable drinks--and who makes a living doing it. The United States Barista Championship is held once a year to showcase baristas' skills in making the best bean concoctions. Each competitor serves four sensory judges the following:

• a single espresso
• a single cappuccino
• a signature beverage of choice (espresso-based and alcohol-free)

These 12 individual drinks must be made within FIFTEEN MINUTES! They are judged among various categories and even their prep stations are judged. I can't even imagine how revved up those judges must be after the competition-ahem-caffeine!

In Chicago proper, it's not just Starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts that people are cupping while they walk down the street or rush to work. Lavazza, Caribou, Metropolis, Intelligentsia, Julius Meinl and Argo are among the franchises which coffee drinkers eagerly explore. Starbucks' "go against the man" nemesis, Caribou, is opening up 7 new locations in Chicago within the next year. The Intelligentsia "brewery" is actually located in the West Loop, and I had the advantage of taking a tour a couple of summers ago. My advice: go when it's cooler. They're brewin' HOT coffee when you're there...remember that.

The coffee drinking experience is different for everyone, as are the flavors, styles, and preparations. No matter if it's coffee at home or coffee on the go, you'll have plenty of more choices in the near future. Keurig's K-cups are bountiful, singular, and just as customizable as what your barista hands you.

Picking up a bag? My suggestions:

Starbucks: Christmas Blend, Organic Yukon Blend, Breakfast Blend

Intelligentsia: House Blend, Diablo Dark Roast

Argo: Black Coffee